Like the story-tellers of old or an acoustic raconteur weaving lyrically heavy stories of love and loss, Josh Ritter returns with a tale of love rediscovered. Bearing all, the singer revealed that following the breakdown of his marriage, a whole host of songs appeared to him “like rocks in the shoe”; perhaps a strange simile given the soothing and hopeful sound of ‘New Lover’.
As dangerous a comparison as it is, there is undoubtedly something Dylan-like about the track (circa-’She’s Your Lover Now’). When it is done well, simple chord progressions and gentle drumming underneath a folk tale melody will always prove completely pleasing and Ritter has filled that brief perfectly here. Sit back, watch the story unfold and rekindle your love for earnest words and acoustic guitar – it’s completely comforting.
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